Secure digital recording

ABSTRACT

A controller for secure digital recording apparatus and apparatus adapted for secure digital recording. The controller including a receiver for receiving at least one input signal from at least one element of a recording apparatus, monitoring means for monitoring a signal representing a condition status of an element of a recording apparatus, whereby a recording operation is prevented unless the monitored signal indicates the condition status satisfies a predetermined requirement. In particular, requirements as to input signals and digital recording media must be satisfied before a recording operation is allowed.

The present invention relates to a controller for secure digitalrecording apparatus and apparatus adapted for secure digital recording.The apparatus, for example, including control and monitoring systems forpreventing recording unless certain requirements relating to therecording operation are satisfied. Particular requirements that must besatisfied before a recording operation is allowed relate to, forexample, valid input signals and recording media.

Digital recording technology has been available for many years. Digitalrecordings can be made on commercially available digital recording mediasuch as compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD) by commerciallyavailable digital recording CD and DVD drives.

Police forces and government agencies use the recording of investigativeinterviews as a major source of gathering primary evidence to be used ina court of law for criminal proceedings. The interview recordings areeither a dedicated audio only record of the interview in progress or avisual/audio record of the interview in progress. Existing analoguerecording equipment includes audio recorders such as described in WO91/19292 and those used by the Police for recording interviews withsuspects under the UK Police and Criminal Evidence Act (P.A.C.E.).

To date, recordings on analogue magnetic cassette tape have beenaccepted as primary evidence for the record of investigative interviewsand there has been prejudice against using digital recording technology.Doubts and concerns relating to the security/authenticity of digitalrecording obtained in an interview situation has prejudiced policeforces and government agencies away from using digital recordings in acourt of law as evidential material, particularly for primary evidencepurposes.

The reason for these concerns and prejudice is that reproduction/copyingof digitally recorded data provides a perfect reproduced copy. Thusthere is the potential for possible editing of an original recording orfor the original recording to be tampered with or altered, if recordeddigitally, without detection.

It is therefore desired to provide a system for secure digitalrecording.

In accordance with a first aspect the present invention provides acontroller for secure digital recording apparatus including monitoringmeans for monitoring an input channel, whereby a recording operation isprevented unless a status of the monitored input channel satisfies apredetermined requirement.

Advantageously, the controller of the present invention will only allowrecordings to be made if specific requirements relating to the recordingoperation are satisfied. Thus enabling secure recordings suitable foruse in a court of law as primary evidence to be recorded.

A signal input to the input channel may be an audio signal, preferablyreceived from a microphone. An input signal may additionally be a videosignal which can be received from a video camera. The presence ofsignals to be recorded may be detected prior to recording being allowedto commence, this is important for secure recording of an interview. Thecontroller may comprise monitoring means for monitoring signals from atleast one element of a recording apparatus. Monitoring more than oneinput channel and/or more than one condition or status canadvantageously provide apparatus with plural integrity and securityfeatures.

The controller may provide that the monitored input channel representsthe operation of at least one element of a recording apparatus. Theelements may be any one or more of; a microphone, a video camera, anaudio recording device or drive. The controller may monitor more thanone recording drive, thus more than one drive can perform the same tasksproviding multiple copies of a recording, such multiple copies of arecording are made simultaneously and are the same.

The predetermined requirements to be satisfied may include that therecording element is connected or plugged in to the recording apparatus.Thus the recording operation may only be allowed to commence if, atleast all the video signals from the required number of cameras to berecorded are present, all the microphones to be recorded are present andif everything in the system is correctly connected and plugged in.Alternatively, the recording operation may only be allowed to commenceif any one of those requirements is satisfied. The predeterminedrequirements may be established by any known techniques in theaudio/visual arts. The presence of the required video signal may bedetermined by checking for the sync-pulse from each camera and apicture-in-picture data from the cameras. Verifying that the microphonesare correctly connected and audio signals are being received may bedetected by monitoring data input signals from the microphones in aknown manner.

The monitored input channel may represent the status of a digitalrecording device, and may further represent the presence of a recordingmedium in the recording device.

The recording medium may be a digital recording medium. Preferably, thepredetermined requirement is that a digital recording medium is presentin all of the at least one digital recording devices. The controller canthen enable multiple simultaneous digital recordings to be generated atthe time of recording using commercially available digital recordingdrives. A recording may be limited to a single continuous session ortrack of recording data on the recording medium.

Preferably the controller includes monitoring the condition or statussuch that the predetermined requirement is that the at least one digitalrecording medium is blank and free from previous recordings. Thepredetermined requirement may be further that a digital recording mediumis a write-once digital recording medium. The signal of the condition orstatus from, or on, a recording medium may be a data signal in the formof many individual pulses which are either high or low in state and donot form a continuous signal. The data signal may be from individualpits and troughs on a recording medium.

Thus advantageously the controller may provide for secure recordingtechnology taking advantage of digital recording media and digitalrecording techniques, thus allowing commercially available digitalrecording drives to produce secure real time digital recordings. Thedigital recording media and techniques are preferably comprised in CD orDVD technology or any other removable digital storage media.

The controller may monitor an input channel representing a condition orstatus of the presence of at least one analogue audio recording device,allowing the use of real time digital recording (with digital recordingdrives) combined with existing standard analogue audio cassette C90recording technology.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided digital recording apparatus including a controller ashereinbefore described. Advantageously the apparatus provides thatrequirements as to input signals and digital recording media must besatisfied before a recording operation is allowed.

Preferably the recording apparatus includes at least one digitalrecording device for recording on at least one digital recording medium,preferably comprising CD or DVD technology. The digital recording drivesmay be CD drives or DVD drives. The recording media may be CDs or DVDs.The CDs or DVDs may be coloured different colours for ease ofidentification during and after recording. At least part of therecording apparatus has no facility to erase a recording, or play back arecording and may be only a recording device. The predeterminedrequirement may prevent recording if previously recorded media arepresent. This means that it is not possible to edit the original digitalrecording without detection.

Prior to making a secure digital recording the condition or statusrequirement may be that the recording media is blank and of the “recordonly” type. “Record only” describes recording media that may have datarecorded, i.e. written to only once. Such “write once” recording mediamay include the formats known as CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R or DVD Master etc.Other types of recording media may include re-writable recording mediawhich can have data recorded on them, i.e. written to them, a number oftimes. Examples of such “re-write” digital recording media may includeformats such as CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD Master etc. A re-writablerecording media may have data written only to different storagelocations, but on a number of “re-writes”. Alternatively, “re-writable”recording media may have data in one storage location overwritten orerased by a re-write.

Recording media whether they are record only or re-writable usually haveidentification marks placed on the disk at the time of their originalmanufacture. This embedded information may be read and may be recognisedby recording and controlling apparatus. The identification informationbetween “record only” and “re-writable” media are different and may bemonitored by the present apparatus to ensure that record only digitalrecording media are used, thus ensuring the security and integrity ofthe data recorded.

Preferably the recording apparatus comprises means for cascading arecording on at least two recording media. This means that a recordingof any length can be made providing for a secure recording of a longinterview. Cascading is a term of the art and will be illustrated forthe preferred embodiment with reference to FIG. 2.

The recording apparatus may monitor at least one input channelcontinually, an input signal may be continuously received by thereceiver. Continually receiving and detecting signals maintains highsecurity and integrity of the recording.

More preferably, the controller or recording apparatus, may furtherincludes means for closing an audio file and finalising an audiorecording on a recording medium, this can guarantee the security andauthenticity of the recording for later use as evidential material. Theuser is presented with recorded media which cannot be used for recordingadditional information or be changed at any point in the future.Preferably, the session of digitally recording/chapter/files must beclosed and finalised prior to removal of any recording media. Morepreferably, the digital recording process may not be paused or stoppedand then restarted, this may be effected by the recording device closingand finalising the recording session/chapter/file of the drives whichare actively recording when the stop button is pressed. Alternatively, aspecific modification to the controller could be added so that a pausefacility may be included. In this instance, the recording media cannotbe removed from the recording drives until the recording sequence hasbeen completed, i.e. the stop button being pressed at which point therecording media is finalised and closed. If the inclusion of a pausefacility is required then each time the recording sequence is paused thecurrent recording file/chapter/session will be stopped. Uponrecommencing the recording sequence i.e. releasing the pause, a new andindependent recording file/chapter/session will be created. When thestop button is pressed the recording media is finalised and closed. Itis only at this point the media will be allowed to be ejected for therecording drives.

In a cascade mode, preferably, the recording media are presented forremoval when the recording session/chapter/file has been closed andfinalised.

The controller or recording apparatus may further comprise a camera orviewing means at a location remote from the recording apparatus. Thecamera or viewing means may act as a remote monitor by relaying a videosignal to, or from, the recording apparatus, the relay of signals mayonly occur when a recording operation is detected. A TV monitor may beprovided for remote monitoring. Preferably, if the TV monitor isswitched on when the secure digital recording apparatus is not activelyrecording, neither video nor audio signals are output or relayed to theTV monitor. The output or relay of video or audio signals (the act ofremote monitoring) to the remote viewing means (TV monitor), may becommunicated to the interview room, communication may be by LEDs or anaudio alarm. The reason for this feature is that a solicitor willsometimes use an interview room for a private consultation with his/herclient. It is imperative that this consultation is conducted in private(without remote monitoring) and the presence of cameras and microphoneswould understandably give a cause for concern. The knowledge that an LEDor an audio alarm accompanied monitoring would reassure the solicitorand client that they were not being monitored with the TV monitor unlessthe LED or audio alarm sounded.

The controller or recording apparatus may further comprise an alertmeans for notifying a user when the monitored signal indicates aparticular condition or status, preferably the alert will be generatedfor an error in the system when the condition or status does not satisfythe predetermined requirement. The operation of the recording apparatusmay be interactive with the user or operator. It is preferable that theuser is notified by an audible alarm in addition to, or instead of, avisually displayed alarm, which may be displayed on an LCD panel messagedisplay and may be a descriptive video text message. The message mayprovide information on the errors in the system and can be interactiveto highlight the particular error or problem and provide instructions asto how the user may correct it. The instructions may be ‘ReconnectMicrophone 1’, for example. The instructions and alarm features enablethe user to efficiently carry out the interview and recording procedure.

Preferably the user or operator is informed of any hardware errors oruser induced or created errors which may have occurred. This furtherensures that the recording operation will only be allowed onceeverything is “correct” and suitable security is in place to make asecure digital recording.

The notification means can be interactive and can provide the user withinstructions in the form of message prompts. Such messages prompt andguide the user accurately through the recording procedure and ensure thesecurity features of the system are implemented correctly.

A further advantage of the controller or apparatus of the presentinvention is that it can be adapted for use with existing standardanalogue Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) audio interview recorders.Additionally, it can record on a recording medium adapted to replay oncommercially available audio/visual real time replay equipment. Theaudio/visual real time replay equipment may be a personal computer (PC)operating with the Windows '95 operating system and a commercial MediaPlayer software package.

Alternatively, if required, the controller for secure digital recordingapparatus and the recording apparatus can be adapted to providespecialised real time digital recordings for investigative interviews ofan extremely sensitive nature. In order to guarantee the safety andsecurity of all those involved in the investigative interview, the realtime digital recordings may be encoded or encrypted in such a way thatthe recordings can only be replayed on specially adapted replayequipment which is not commercially available.

The controller for secure digital recording apparatus and the recordingapparatus can be used in conjunction with an integrated/standalonestandard commercial uninterrupted power supply to prevent a 240V ACmains failure negating the digital recording file closure.

Embodiments of the invention and an apparatus of the prior art (FIG. 1)will now be described by way of example only and with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a prior art triple copy analogueaudio cassette based interview recorder.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a triple deck digital interviewrecorder according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the recording apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified flow diagram illustrating the digitalrecording processes carried with the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3.

With reference to FIG. 1, the interview recorder shown generally as 19′is well known in the art and has analogue recording deck 7. Therecording deck 7 is provided with recording drives 20. Analogue audiocassettes 21 are used in recording drives 20 for recording an interviewin progress. The apparatus includes one or more microphones 17′ forreceiving audio input signals of the interview and may optionallyinclude one or more cameras 16′ for receiving video input signals of theinterview. Recording is effected with single function controls record,11′, stop 12′ and eject 13′. A facility to monitor the interview inprogress on a video monitor 18′ remote from the recording apparatus isprovided. A remote monitoring indicator light 14′ is illuminated if theinterview is being remotely monitored.

Recording an interview with analogue recording apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1 is well known in the art. Recording an interview with a suspectunder standard Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) procedure willnow be described with reference to FIG. 1. Three C90 analogue audiocassettes, 21, are unwrapped in the presence of the suspect and placedin recording drive 20 in analogue recording deck 7. Recording iseffected by closing the recording deck and pressing single functioncontrol button record 11′. Audio signals received from microphone(s) 17′are recorded. Further analogue recording media (not shown) may beprovided to record visual data from a camera(s) 16′. Visual data from acamera(s) 16′ is displayed on screen 9′.

A picture-in-picture display from remote monitor 18′ can be provided inscreen 9′ for verifying the status of the video equipment and remotemonitoring equipment. Recording indicator lights or LEDs 8′ (for audioor visual recording) are provided. The lights are activated andilluminated when recording is in progress and deactivated and off whenrecording is not in progress.

Standard PACE procedures include an initial 8 second alarm at thebeginning of an audio recording, the display of the elapsed time of theinterview is recorded on the display 10′ and a 2 minute ‘end of tape’warning sounding after 43 minutes of elapsed time on the C90 analogueaudio cassettes, 21. The warning is audible and allows the interviewertime to explain to the suspect the procedure of inserting new tapes etc.The interviewer stops the recording, unwraps and inserts three newblank, virgin cassette tapes. At the end of the interview, or at the endof the tapes, one of the three recorded tapes, the master, is sealed ina bag in front of the suspect. The other two tapes are placed on thefile for Police use as necessary.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference tothe drawings where like numerals to the numerals primed (′) of FIG. 1refer to like features in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 there is shown acontroller 20 for secure digital recording apparatus 19 comprising areceiver for receiving at least one input signal from at least oneelement 16; 17; 18 of a recording apparatus 19, monitoring means formonitoring a signal representing a condition or status of an element 16;17; 18 of a recording apparatus 19, whereby a recording operation 4; 5is prevented unless the monitored signal indicates the condition orstatus satisfies a predetermined requirement.

In FIG. 2 a triple deck 1, 2, 3 digital interview recorder 19 isillustrated with dual digital recording drives 4, 5 for each digitalrecording deck 1, 2, 3. Similar operational features are provided by thedigital recording apparatus 19 as for prior art analogue recordingapparatus 19′. For example, recording apparatus 19 records audio signalsreceived by microphone 17, and digital real time recording input fromcamera 16. Apparatus 19 also includes single function controls record11, stop 12 and eject 13. The type of recording is selected by the userand effected through manual mode select switch 15. FIG. 2 shows a rotarymode switch 15, with three settings; analogue audio recording only,analogue and digital audio recording or digital audio recording only.The user selects one of the available methods of recording using theswitch 15. The analogue audio or digital recording medium is placed inrecording drives 7, 4, 5 as appropriate. The depressing of singlefunction record control button 11, effects the recording of the signalsreceived from the microphone 17. The signals are recorded,simultaneously, on either analogue or digital recording media or on bothtypes of media.

The signals are recorded on multiple copies of either analogue ordigital recording media or both types of media. Multiple copies of therecording on digital recording media is carried out by recording using adigital recording medium in each digital recording deck 1, 2, 3, theaudio signals are recorded simultaneously on the multiple copies. Theaudio signals are recorded on three (multiple) copies of analoguerecording media by inserting multiple (three, in FIG. 2) analogue audiocassettes, 21 in drive 7.

Digital recording apparatus 19 of FIG. 2 further includes securitycontrol features, controlled by a combination of software and electroniccircuitry that guarantees the security and authenticity of the recordingfor later use as evidential material. The security control featuresprovide that prior to recording being allowed to commence signals mustbe received to confirm the requirements that all the required recodingmedia are present, the media are record only/write once recording media,and are blank and free from previous recording. Furthermore, prior torecording being allowed to commence video signals from a required numberof cameras to be recorded and audio signals from a required number ofmicrophones to be recorded must be present.

The recording apparatus of FIG. 2 includes an LCD message display 10providing the user with message guidance prompts or error alerts.Dedicated digital recording drive and analogue recording driveconfidence LED's 8 illuminate when respective digital and analoguerecording is in progress.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic block interface diagram of the recordingapparatus of FIG. 2 with like numerals of FIG. 3 referring to likeelements of FIG. 2.

Standard PACE procedures described with reference to FIG. 1 above canalso be followed and implemented on interview recorder 19 of FIG. 2. Inthe case of interviewing under PACE procedures the LCD display providesthe user with appropriate message guidance prompts. When the recordingapparatus is used for real-time digital audio/visual 16 interviewrecording a colour LCD monitor 9 enables live visual images to be viewedon the recording apparatus.

The overall recording operations carried out with the apparatus of FIG.2 are illustrated in the flow chart of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the LCDmessages and prompts that would be displayed to the user/interviewer andthat indicate the current status or next step in the recording or set-upprocedure.

A further feature of the apparatus of FIG. 2 is a remote monitoringindicator light 14 provided and only illuminated if the interview isbeing remotely monitored, as for FIG. 1. Remote monitor 18 enablesremote monitoring of the interview the TV monitor 18 is modified in sucha way that when it is turned on a switch/relay is thrown. The controllerof the present invention detects and monitors that the remote TV monitoris active. The video and audio signals are outputted to the remote TVmonitor only if the secure digital recording apparatus is activelyrecording, i.e. if a recording is being made. Light 14 is illuminated bythe recording apparatus to indicate to the persons in the interview roomthat remote monitoring is taking place.

Should the TV monitor be switched on and the secure digital recordingapparatus is not actively recording, neither video nor audio signals areoutputted to the TV monitor and no light 14 is illuminated.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the triple deckinterview recording equipment 19 could be extended to quadruple etc.recording equipment with further decks. Each deck 1, 2, 3 . . . may beprovided with one or two recording drives 4, 5. Two recording drives 4,5 per recording deck allow for the provision of uninterrupted continuousrecording known as cascading. Cascading is a well known technique knownto those in the filed of sound and interview recording. Cascading refersto commencing a second recording prior to a first recording finishing,generating overlap of recording to ensure continuity. There are variousknown methods of generating a cascade, one method illustrated withreference to FIG. 2 is activated with a toggle switch 6. Selection ofcontinuous cascade recording “loops” the recording from a recordingmedia in a first recording drive 4 to a recording media in a secondrecording drive 5, and back again. With reference to FIG. 2 once acascade operation is selected a (digital) recording medium is insertedin first and second recording drives 4, 5, recording is carried out onthe medium in drive 4 followed by the medium in drive 5, then therecording medium in drive 4 is replaced with a new recording mediuminserted into drive 4 just prior to the end of recording on therecording media in drive 5. At the end of recording with drive 5, drive4 starts recording again, then the recording medium in drive 5 isreplaced with new recording medium inserted into drive 5, with the nextcascade, being drive 4 to drive 5 etc.

In the recording apparatus of FIG. 2, including dual recording drives 4,5, when recording an interview that is likely to be of short duration,and within the recording time of the recording media to be used, anon-cascade operation is selected with toggle switch 6. For recording aninterview which may last longer than the recording time of a singlerecording media continuous cascade recording is selected with toggleswitch 6.

LCD messages and prompts necessary to carry out recording a cascadedinterview are displayed to the user/interviewer indicate the currentstatus or next step in the recording or set-up procedure. The messagesand prompts include those relating to errors, such as alerting the userto a microphone or video camera becoming disconnected. The messages andprompts also relate to changes in the system, for example if theinterview lasts for longer than the duration of the analogue recordingmedium, appropriate text and, where necessary, for example, under PACEprocedures, appropriate audio message prompts alert the user to insertnew analogue recording media and inform the suspect of the standardprocedures. In the situation where the digital recording media or drivesfail, or operate incorrectly the analogue recording is continued tomaintain a record of events. Examples of such messages and prompts areshown in FIG. 4.

The cascading, or “looping” facility enables an interview of anyduration to be continuously recorded. Selection of the non-cascaderecording operation means that the uninterrupted continuous recordingtime is limited to the storage capacity of the recording medium.However, in the present context of police force and government agencyinvestigative interviewing, it is normal practice that a break isprovided if an interview lasts for more than two hours.

With the combination of software and electronic security features of theapparatus described in the preferred embodiment the authenticity of thedigital recording is guaranteed for later use, even if a long interviewis recorded and a cascade is used. The recording cascade sequence willonly begin if the monitored apparatus satisfies predeterminedrequirements relating to the input signals and digital recording mediafor example. In the specific embodiment described, with reference toFIG. 2, the recording sequence will only begin if all of the followingrequirements are met; all the required video signals are present, allthe required microphones are plugged in, all the required recordingmedia are present, the recording media are of the record only type, therecording media and blank and free from recorded data.

The combined features of the controlling and monitoring apparatus of thepresent invention provide an interactive secure digital recordingtechnology for secure digital recording apparatus suitable or use inpolice force and government agency investigative interviewing. Featuresof the technology illustrated in the preferred embodiment arehighlighted below;

-   it guarantees the security and authenticity of the recording for    later use as evidential material-   it will only allow record only/write once recording media to be used-   it will only allow record only/write once media to be used if they    are blank and free from previous recording-   it will only allow recording to commence if all the required media    are present-   it will only allow the recording process to begin if the video    signals from the required number of cameras to be recorded are    present-   it will only allow the recording process to begin if all the    microphones to be recorded are present-   it will only allow the recording process to begin if everything is    correct-   it will only allow the removal of the media when the session of    recording/chapter/files have been closed and finalised-   it will not allow the recording process to be paused or stopped and    then restarted-   it will close and finalise the recording session/chapter/file of the    drives which are actively recording when the stop button is pressed.-   when the cascade facility is used the media are only presented for    removal when the recording session/chapter/file has been closed and    finalised.-   it will present the user with recorded media which cannot be used    for recording additional information or be changed at any point in    the future-   it can provide continuous and uninterrupted recording of an event    such as an interview by the use of two digital recording drives per    recording deck i.e. the recording time available is not necessarily    limited to the storage capacity/time of recording available on the    digital storage media being used-   it can generate multiple copies of the digital recording    simultaneously-   it can be used by non technical personnel-   it provides the user with message prompts which describe the next    event/button to be pressed-   it is easy to use with only three single function controls which    control the recording device-   the single function controls are limited to record, stop and eject-   the controls are single function only-   the user of the equipment is notified by audio/visual alarms should    anything be incorrect or an error occurs. The alarms are supported    by descriptive messages-   the status of the equipment is always known by the provision of    status messages-   it can be used and configured as a static fixed location digital    recording device or as a robust portable digital recording device-   the recordings can have supplementary video stamped text    messages/data burnt into the visual recording to support the event    being recorded-   it can, if required, be configured to operate against a user defined    operational specification by changing the messages and timing of    events which occur during the recording process. i.e. a user may    wish to have the cascade facility limited to only a single cascade    which would limit the total recording time to 2× the recording time    that is achieved by a single media.-   it may be used to provide recordings which can only be read by    specific replay equipment thus controlling the viewing of data which    is of a sensitive nature.-   it can be applied and configured to be used with CDs, DVDs or any    other removable digital storage media.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are given byway of example only and that various modifications thereto may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

For example, in the embodiments above mode select switch 15 and toggleswitch 6 may be a rotary switch, a magnetic switch, electric switch orother means of effecting a user selection from a number of recordingoptions available. Additionally, the single function control buttons maybe buttons or switches or other user controlled means known in the art.Recording indicator lights for indicating analogue or digital, audioand/or visual recording may be may be light bulbs, LED's or types ofindicator light. Message displays providing the user with messageguidance prompts or error alerts may include liquid crystal displays, ordescriptive video text messages or other notification screens ordevices.

Digital recording media and recording drives may be any known in theart, examples include DVD, CD and high or double density DVD. Otherexamples include solid state recording media including memory cards suchas MultiMedia cards (for example, Kodak Multimedia card 64 MB KOMM64MBC), Memory sticks (for example, Sony Memory stick 128 MB SONMSA128a)and SmartMedia cards (for example, Fujifilm SmartMedia Card 128 MB IDFUJS128MBCID).

1. A controller for a secure digital interview recording apparatus, saidcontroller comprising: monitoring means for monitoring a status of aninput channel, whereby a recording operation is prevented unless themonitored status of the input channel satisfies a predeterminedrequirement, wherein the status of the monitored input channelrepresents the operation of each of the following elements of therecording apparatus: a microphone, a video camera, and at least one,recording drive.
 2. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein therecording device is at least one digital recording drive.
 3. Thecontroller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined requirementis that the status of the monitored channel indicates that the elementsof the recording apparatus is connected or plugged in.
 4. The controlleras claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined requirement for thestatus of the input channel is the presence of a recording medium in theat least one recording drive.
 5. The controller as claimed in claim 1,wherein a recording drive is at least one digital recording device andwherein the predetermined requirement for the status of the inputchannel is the presence of a digital recording medium in the at leastone recording drive.
 6. The controller as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe predetermined requirement is that the at least one digital recordingmedium is blank and free from previous recordings.
 7. The controller asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined requirement is that the atleast one digital recording medium is a write-once digital recordingmedium.
 8. The controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein a recordingdevice is at least one digital recording device and wherein thepredetermined requirement is that a digital recording medium is presentin all of the at least one digital recording drive.
 9. The controller asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a camera or viewing means at alocation remote from the recording apparatus for relaying a video signalto or from a recording apparatus.
 10. The controller as claimed in claim1, further including a notification alert means for notifying a userwhen the monitored input channel has a particular status.
 11. Thecontroller or recording apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein thereis an error in the system when the status does not satisfy thepredetermined requirement.
 12. The controller as claimed in claim 1,adapted for use with existing standard analogue Police and CriminalEvidence (PACE) audio interview recorders.
 13. The controller as claimedin claim 1, wherein a recording on recording medium is adapted to replayon commercially available audio/visual real time replay equipment. 14.The controller as claimed in claim 1, further adapted to providespecialized encoded real time recording on recording medium adapted toreplay on specialized audio/visual real time replay equipment notcommercially available.
 15. The controller as claimed in claim 1,further including means for closing an audio file and finalizing anaudio recording on a recording medium.
 16. The recording apparatusfurther comprising a controller as claimed in claim
 1. 17. A digitalinterview recording apparatus comprising: a controller for a securedigital interview recording apparatus including monitoring means formonitoring a status of an input channel, that status being derived froma condition of each of the following elements of said recordingapparatus: (a) a microphone, (b) at least one video camera, and (c) atleast one recording drive, whereby a recording operation is preventedunless the monitored status of the input channel satisfies apredetermined requirement; and at least one digital recording drive forrecording an input signal on at least one digital recording medium. 18.The recording apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least onedigital recording comprises CD or DVD technology.
 19. The recordingapparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for cascadinga recording on at least two recording media.
 20. The recording apparatusas claimed in claim 17, further comprising a camera or viewing means ata location remote from the recording apparatus for relaying a videosignal to or from a recording apparatus.
 21. The recording apparatus asclaimed in claim 20, wherein there is an error in the system when thestatus does not satisfy the predetermined requirement.
 22. The recordingapparatus as claimed in claim 17, adapted for use with existing standardanalogue Police and Criminal Evidence (PAGE) audio interview recorders.23. The recording apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein a recordingon recording medium is adapted to replay on commercially availableaudio/visual real time replay equipment.
 24. The recording apparatus asclaimed in claim 17, further adapted to provide specialized encoded realtime recording on recording medium adapted to replay on specializedaudio/visual real time replay equipment not commercially available. 25.The recording apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising meansfor closing an audio file and finalizing an audio recording on arecording medium.
 26. A secure digital interview recording apparatuscontroller for controlling secure digital interview recording apparatus,said interview recording apparatus having at least one recording deck,the or each recording deck having at least one digital recording drivefor recording on a digital recording medium, the controller comprising:monitoring means for monitoring the status of an input channel derivedfrom a condition of the recording deck, wherein in use a recordingoperation is prevented unless the monitored status of the input channelindicates that a digital recording medium present in each of the atleast one recording deck is a write once recording medium.
 27. Securedigital interview recording apparatus, including a controller, at leastone recording deck, the or each recording deck including at least onedigital recording drive for recording on a digital recording medium, thecontroller including monitoring means for monitoring the status of aninput channel, whereby in use a recording operation is prevented unlessthe monitored status of the input channel indicates that a digitalrecording medium present in each of the at least one recording deck is awrite once recording medium.
 28. A secure digital interview recordingapparatus controller for controlling secure digital interview recordingapparatus, the interview recording apparatus including at least onerecording deck, the or each recording deck including at least onedigital recording drive for recording on at least one digital recordingmedium, the controller including means for preventing removal of therecording medium from the recording drive unless the recording medium isfinalized.
 29. A secure digital interview recording apparatus,comprising: at least one recording deck, the or each recording deckincluding at least one digital recording drive for recording on at leastone digital recording medium, the or each recording deck providing meansfor finalizing a recording on said digital recording medium; and acontroller for controlling the at least one recording deck, wherein thecontroller in use prevents removal of said recording medium from therecording drive unless said recording medium has been finalized.